Give Young Australians a Better Future

Join the Home Stretch Campaign and call for the leaving age of care to be extended to 21.

The Issue

We all need a safe and loving home. Unfortunately, for many children, this is far from reality. For reasons of safety or neglect, they are unable to live with their birth parents and are in the care of the state. For a while, they are offered some form of security.

However, current government policies require the child protection system to begin preparing a young person to leave care as early as 15 years, while most would leave their care placement during their 16th or 17th year.

Evidence of the negative outcomes experienced when 18-year-old people transition out of the care system has been mounting for decades. A lack of appropriate supports in the crucial post-care years mean that young people are experiencing high rates of homelessness, financial hardship and contact with the justice system.

Findings from a 2009 survey conducted by the CREATE foundation on care leavers demonstrated that:

35% were homeless in the first year of leaving care;

46% of boys were involved in the juvenile justice system;

29% were unemployed;

Whilst there are some available services to assist the transition to leaving care, too many young people are still struggling to cope independently at 18 years after a life in state care.

Young people in state care should have a place they call home and support until the age of 21.

The Home Stretch Campaign

Home Stretch is a national campaign, formed to seek change to the current leaving care arrangements for young people in state care.

International research shows where care is extended until the age of 21, education participation doubles and homelessness rates are halved. We are urging Governments across Australia to provide the option for young people in state care to be supported until at least the age of 21.

The Home Stretch Campaign would like to see the NSW government support the extension of care to at least 21 years for those who:

Wish to stay on in their foster care or kinship care placement and have the agreement from their carer, or

Are not ready to go and wish to remain in a supported care environment but either cannot remain in the care placement past 18 years; such as those exiting residential care, or do not wish to remain in foster care.

Join the Home Stretch Campaign today

Young people in NSW need your support. Join the national campaign today and raise your voice to help the next generation of Australians on the home stretch to adulthood.

A Care Leaver's Story

“As I start to fill out my leaving care plan I’m terrified of the obstacles ahead and the challenges I have to face.”– Female care leaver, aged 16, NSW

“I am 16 years old and I live in care. I have been in care for just over 15 years with my foster mum. The reason I was put in care was that my parents didn't look after me probably and my father abused me. So I ended up in care. Growing up was harder than other kids my age. I always had to make two of everything for my real parents and foster ones. I knew I was always different but I didn't understand what was going on.

“I grew up thinking I was worthless and a mistake and was bullied at school for being in foster care. As every early teen has their struggles I couldn't handle it some days. Other days were better than some. I didn’t have a caseworker for years and my family had no help with raising me. But a couple years ago we got one. It was a whole new experience for me and I wasn't ready for it. In my eyes, it's an invasion on my life because I just want to be like everyone else which is hard when you've got someone coming to your house every six weeks to see what you're up too.

“Even though being in care is hard and takes a lot of strength it can't be done without foster carers like mine and the final support we get. As I start to fill out my leaving care plan I’m terrified of the obstacles ahead and the challenges I must face things like taxes and cooking and housing and work and money, everything a basic adult needs. I have friends who are over 18 and still haven't gotten the extra support they needed and have ended up on the streets and had their agencies turn away from them.

“Therefore, I strongly believe the age for child care should be raised to 21 so children in care feel secure and like they will get taken care of.”

Impact of extending care to 21 years in New South Wales

New research shows the NSW Government will more than triple their return on investment for every dollar spent on keeping young people in care until they are 21, saving NSW taxpayers $222 million over the next 10 years.

For more information:

Current government policies require the child protection system to begin preparing a young person to leave care as early as 15 years, while most would leave their care placement during their 16th or 17th year. While there are some services available to assist the transition to leaving care, too many young people are still struggling to cope independently at 18 years after a life in state care.

Anglicare supports the NSW Home Stretch Campaign’s objective to advocate for the extension of care from 18 to 21 years of age for those who:

want to stay on with their foster care or kinship care family and have the agreement from their carer, or

want to remain in a supported care environment but who either do not wish to remain in foster care or are exiting residential care.